High Fiber For Gut Health, Weight Management
Barley is cereal plant of the grass family Poaceae and its edible grain. It can be grown under different environments, so become the 4th largest grain crop globally, after wheat, rice, and corn. Barley is commonly used in breads, soups, stews, and health products, though it is primarily grown as animal fodder and as a source of malt for alcoholic beverages, especially beer.
There are two varieties of barley, distinguished by the number of rows of flowers on its flower spike. Wild barley is two-rowed, and thus the first domesticated barley was two-rowed. Six-rowed types and hulless barley emerged not long afterward from the domesticated two-rowed types, due to a few chance mutations. Several traits have been selected in barley compared to wild barley, which facilitate harvest, storage, and utilization. Six-row barley has a higher sugar content and commonly used for malt production.
The top ten barley producing countries include Russia, Germany, Canada, Ukraine, France, Australia, the United Kingdom, Turkey, United States, and Denmark. Less than one-half of the barley produced throughout the world is used for the preparation and production of products directly consumed by humans. In some regions of the world, barley is grown for human consumption where other grains do not grow well. When consumed as grain, hulless barley is generally used because the absence of the hull makes the product more palatable and easier to process. Barley can be pearled, which removes the outer layers of the seed and the embryo, followed by processing to produce small rounded pieces of the endosperm.
Barley has a nutty flavour and contain carbohydrates, protein, calcium, phosphorus and small amounts of vitamin B. Due to its gluten content, it cannot be used to make a flour that will produce a porous loaf of bread. However, it is suitable to make an unleavened type, or flatbread, and to make porridge. Barley is rich is dietary fiber, which is good for gut health. When we consume barley, the good bacteria in our guts will ferment the fiber contained in the barley. This forms butyric acid, which is the fuel source for the cells in our intestines. When our intestines are in good condition, it speed up the removal of feces from the body, to keep the stomach free from waste and toxins. Barley also significantly decreases the chances of getting hemorrhoids and colon cancer.
Barley contains a type of soluble fiber known as beta-glucan, which also helps in reducing hunger and reducing your appetite. This beta-glucan form a gel substance that slows down the process of digestion as well as the absorption of nutrients. This indirectly controls appetite and promotes a feeling of fullness. It also helps target belly fat which is positively associated with many types of metabolic diseases. As a result, barley is helpful for weight management. Barley helps lower cholesterol levels in the body. Beta-glucans can effectively lower the levels of LDL cholesterol by binding to bile acids produced from the liver. This bile acid will be excreted through the feces. As a result, liver needs to use more cholesterol in order to make new bile acids again, thus, decreasing the levels of cholesterol that circulates within the bloodstream. Barley helps promote heart health because it lowers bad cholesterol and also lowers our blood pressure. Since high levels of LDL cholesterol and blood pressure are known to be the biggest risk factors that cause heart disease, barley thus helps protect our heart and also boost our heart health-Barley extract powder.
*Direction of Use*
Add 1/8 teaspoon to 6 tablespoon or 0.2% to 6% of total weight or as needed. Mix, top or blend in water, smoothies, beverages, ice-cream, kuih-muih, cake, jam, jelly, pudding, snacks, biscuits, desserts, dressing & recipes.
For Baking: Means need to add 0.2g-60g of the extract to make a 1kg cake. (Depends on personal preferences)
*Storage Method: Powder in Canister*
Store in a refrigerator/cool place after opening.
*Precaution:
- Colour, taste, texture may vary from batch to batch, and sediment might occur as the ingredients used are natural.
- Some powder is very fine, while some powder is more coarse. Please take this into consideration when ordering.
- Stop using this product if an allergy occurs.